DART Car Ignites the Track: A Groundbreaking Intersection of Fine Art and Female-Driven Motorsports

Source: Driven Artists Racing Team (DART Car)

Reported By: Caroline Dalal

Under the roar of a McLaren Artura GT4 and the shimmer of rhinestone-studded design, the Driven Artists Racing Team—DART Car—made a striking debut with a mission that transcends the racetrack. Co-founded by tech entrepreneur Zoë Barry, esteemed art advisor Spring McManus, and acclaimed race car driver Aurora Straus, DART Car introduces a pioneering model for motorsports: a female-led, art-integrated team challenging conventions in both racing and contemporary art.

Unveiled at Classic Car Club Manhattan ahead of its competitive premiere at the SRO GT4 America series in Sonoma, DART Car’s arrival signals more than the launch of a new team. It marks a movement, one rooted in visibility, representation, and the power of collaboration between women across industries that have historically sidelined them.

Positioning itself at the vanguard of motorsports, DART Car enters the season not only as a serious contender, but as a cultural force. It’s the first professional racing initiative of its kind to partner exclusively with female artists to design high-performance racecars. Their debut livery—an original commission by celebrated contemporary artist Mickalene Thomas—recasts the traditional racecar as a canvas for storytelling, symbolism, and power.

The vehicle’s exterior, adorned with a Cubist-inspired portrait and textured elements like glitter, Benday dots, and zebra print, speaks directly to Thomas’ artistic exploration of femininity, race, and identity. But it’s not just the car that’s bespoke: Thomas also designed hand-painted helmets and custom driving suits for Straus and Barry, embedding art into every gearshift and turn.

At its core, DART Car is built on a sharp understanding of two glaring gaps: women make up only 4% of drivers in elite racing circuits, and art by women comprises just 3.3% of global auction sales. Through its advocacy program, DART Car plans to fund annual commissions with leading female artists while competing in high-profile, co-ed racing series to prove women’s capabilities in the fastest corners of the sport.

With races scheduled through 2025 and an ambitious finale set for the Middle East in January 2026—where DART Car will be the first all-female-led team to compete in the 24H Series Middle East Trophy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi—the team is racing toward a future that looks markedly different from the past.

Each co-founder brings singular expertise to the track. Zoë Barry, a tech entrepreneur and serial founder, makes her professional racing debut this year after podium placements in International GT and a standout run in the Porsche Sprint Challenge, where she earned the “Hard Charger” award. Spring McManus, a former Christie’s specialist with decades of experience in the global art market, brings an unmatched curatorial lens to the team’s artistic partnerships. Meanwhile, Aurora Straus is already a record-setter: the first woman worldwide to win a Radical Cup North America race and the founder of Girls With Drive, an initiative encouraging young women to pursue careers in motorsports and engineering.

As DART Car hits the circuit, it does so backed by visionary sponsors like Commence Haircare by Brooke Shields, Sabelt North America, P1 Motor Club, and CART Department. But beyond its partners and its pace, DART Car’s power lies in its purpose.

That fusion is precisely what makes DART Car resonate across industries, disciplines, and audiences. It’s not just about who’s driving, but what they’re driving forward—visibility, artistry, equity, and speed. And as their engines roar at circuits across the globe, DART Car is redefining what it means to take the lead.

The one-of-a-kind art car will be on view May 2 at The Moore, and May 3–4 in Paradise Plaza.